EditorialUsing Disease Epidemiology to Optimize Immunization Schedules
Cindy M. Weinbaum, MD, MPH; Walter A. Orenstein, MD
JAMA Pediatr. 2017;171(10):944-945. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2017.2375Abstract
Macartney et al1 report in this issue of JAMA Pediatrics on the safety of using combination measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) vaccine as the second dose of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and sole dose of varicella vaccine in Australia, and the effect of this policy on national vaccine coverage. They found that there was no increase in febrile seizures when MMRV is administered in the second year of life approximately 6 months after a first dose of MMR and that on-time vaccination increased with use of MMRV. Are these findings an indication that the timing and use of combination MMRV vaccine should be reconsidered for the United States?